Computing-machine.



C. R. RINGS.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) 0CT.28. 1914.

1,158,854. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET l.

W/T/VE88E8. IIVVEIVTUR. W Car/19.321298 A TTORNEV UNITED STATES PATENT CARL R. RINGS, OF MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JULIUS PETZELBEEGER, 0F MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.,

Application filed October 28, 1914. serial No. 868,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL R. R mes, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Skagit and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Computing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in computing devices and the object of my improvement is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive computing machine which shall be adapted to be operated accurately to compute and indicate the total number of feet contained in any number of pieces of lumber of like dimensions together with the total price of such total number of feet, the price per thousand feet being known, and which shall be further adapted to accurately compute and indicate the weight of such total number of feet of lumber, the weight per foot thereof being known. l accomplislrthis object by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the same on a reduced scale; Fig, 3 is a view of the same in longitudinal mid-section on broken line 00, 0c of Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views showing different relative positions of parts of the same. Fig. 10 is a View showing a portion of the scale arrangement used herewith.

' Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, an inclosing case 12 is formed to have its upper portion of semi-cylindrical form and is provided with end walls 13, 13 each of which is provided with an indentation of circular form that is concentric with the curve of the semi-cylindrical upper portion of the inclosing case 12, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and each of said end walls is removably secured in its position within the end of the inclosing case 12 by screws 14.

in the central portion of indentation in each end wall is a'shaft bearing 15 and rotatably mounted within such shaft bearings 15 is a shaft 16 upon which is concentrically fixed a drum-like cylinder 17 which is thus disposed with its periphery adjacent to and concentric with the inner surfacelof the semi-cylindrical upper portion of the inclosing case 12.

The shaft 16 projects each of its ends outwardly from its respective bearings 16 to a point within the plane of the respective end surface of the inclosing case 12 and on each of such projecting ends is removably secured a milled disk 18 either of which disks 18 may be grasped by ones hand to rotate the shaft 16 and the cylinder 17 mounted thereon, thus to rotatably ,move such cylinder 17 to a desired circumferential posltion.

The semi-cylindrical portion and the side walls of the inclosing case 12, are preferably made of thin metal and extending lengthwise of the top thereof are two symmetrically disposed slots 19 and 20 in parallel with each other which slots 19 and 20 extend through the semi-cylindrical wall of the case to expose segmental portions of the periphery of the drum-like cylinder 17.

Referring to Fig. 1, disposed adjacent to that side of the slot 19, indicated by the arrow No. 1, may be inscribed a column of figures A. indicating sizes of pieces of lumber, which column of figures will hereinafter be referred to as scale N0. 1, and on that side of said slot 19 which is indicated by arrow No. 2 may be inscribed a column of figures l3-constituting transposition numbers, which column of figures will hereinafter be referred to as scale No. 2, and on that side of the slot 20 indicated by arrow No. 3 may be inscribed a column of figures C indicating either prices or weights, as may be required, which column of figures will hereinafter be referred to as scale No. 3, and on that side of said slot 20 indicated by arrow No. 4 between the arrow and the letter '1 may be inscribed column of figures indicating feet and between the letter T and the star is a row of figures D indicating number of pieces, and between the star and the word Size is a column of figures indicating len ths of pieces of lumber.

lhe peripheral surface of the drum-like cylinder 1'? is prepared to adapt it to be inscribed with longitudinally and with circumferentially disposedcolumns of figures,

or such columns of figur s may be inscribed on suitable material, as paper, celluloid or metal, and then such inscribed sheet be properly disposed to surround the periphery Extending spirally for one turn around the inscribed peripheral surface of said cylinder 17 is an imprinted broken line E beginning at one end of the cylinder at one circumferential point and ending at the other 1 end of the cylinder at a corresponding circumferential point, which broken line may serve quickly to guide one in setting the cylinder 17 at a required circumferential position in the operation of solving a problem and which broken line will hereinafter be referred to as range line 21.

The first one of the circumferentially disposed columns of figures which extend around the cylinder 17 is indicated at F and contains transposition numbers which serve to guide one in setting the cylinder 17 to a desired circumferential point with respect to the relation between the different scales and the figures of other columns, and

such column of such transposition numbers is disposed so that upon turning-the cylinder 17 to a required: position any desired number therein may be exposed to view through the slot 20 adjacent to the letter T on that side of such slot 20 which is indicated by arrow No, 4 while the remaining series of twenty one circumferentially disposed columns indicated at G are each disposed so that 'a number therein maybe exposed to iew through the slot 20 at a point adjacent toany desired one of the figures which indicate the number of pieces and such'exposed number will indicate the number offeet of lumber in that number of pieces indicated by the respective number in the row of figures which indicate different number of pieces, in other words such remaining columns of circumferentially disposed columns contain figures that indicate the total number of'feet contained in different number of pieces.

On the left hand end portion of the peripheral surface of the cylinder 17 extending between the circumferentially disposed column of transposition numbers and the end of the cylinder 17 are'longitudinal columns of figures (not shown) which columns are separated byequi-distant spaces and the figures. of such columns serve to indicate the products of computations. At the extreme right end of the peripheral portion-of the cylinder 17 is a circumferentially disposed column of figures I'indicating dimensions of pieces of lumber, such column registering with the word Size which is inscribed on the case adjacent to that edge ofthe slot 20 indicated by arrow ferentially disposed columns of figures indicatingnumbers of feet are longitudinally disposed columns containing another set of transposition numbers K which aid in guiding one in the operation of setting the cylinder l7 to required different points.

Since the total number of figures inscribed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder '17 amount to many thousands more than fifteen thousand I have'not attempted to reproduce them in the drawings, their function however will be understood upon explaining the operation of computation which may be described as follows: If, for instance, it be required to find the sum representing the cost of sixty pieces'of lumber twelve inches by sixteen inches square in cross-section and thirty-two feet long at nine dollars per thousand feet, board measure, thenone would rotate the cylinder 17 to a circumferential point where its range line 21 registers with the dimension number 12x16 of scale No. 1, as indicated "in Fig. 5, whereupon it would be seen that such range line 21 would lead diagonally across the slot 19 and 20 to the word Size inscribed on the case 12 adjacent to the edge of the right hand end of the slot 20, and opposite the Word -Size on the cylinder 1.7 would appear the figures 12x16, while opposite the numbers 8. 14, 20, 26, 32 and40 (which numbers represent the lengths of pieces in feet and which are inscribed on the case 12- on the same longitudinal line with the word Size-), there would appear, respectively,

the numbers 266, 315, 352, 381, 101 and 427 which numbers would indicate that the transposition number for pieces eight feet long is 266, the transposition number-for pieces fourteen feet long is 315, the: transposition number for pieces twenty feet long 105 is 352, the transposition number-for pieces twenty-six feet long is 381,*the transposition number'for pieces thirty-two feet long is 401 and the transposition number for pieces forty'feet long is 427, and, since the exam:

Where the range line 21 intersects scale No. 2

between the numbers 400 and 410 (such numbers most nearly approximating the transposition number 404) and then looking at the column of transposition numbers inscribed on the cylinder as exposed through the slot 20 it will be seen that the transposition number 404 is immediately adjacent to the edge of the slot 20, opposite the letter T inscribed on the case 12, and while the cylinder 17 is in such circumferential position, 1'

upon looking at the figures of the circumferentially disposed column exposedthrough theslot 20 at the point opposite the number indicating 60 pieces of lumber there will be found the number 30,720 immediately adja- 133 cent to the edge of the slot 20 where the number 60 is inscribed which number 30,720 will correctly indicate the number of feet in sixty pieces of lumber 12x16 inches square and thirty-two feet long. Then to find the price of 30,720 feet of lumber at nine dollars per thousand feet, the cylinder 17 is turned 000 cents per one thousand feet, and since, there are thirty thousand, seven hundred and twenty feet for which the cost is to be found, the numbers on the cylinder 17 which are found opposite the numbers 30,000, 700 and 20 (which areinscribed on the case 12 adjacent to the edge indicated bythe arrow No; l) will accurately indicate the cost of such respective numbers of feet, thus, opposite 30,000 will be found the number 27,000

cents while opposite the number 700 is the number 632 cents and opposite the number 20 will be found the number lS cents making a total of 27,648 cents or two hundred.

and seventy-six dollars and forty-eight cents.

Obviously, the numbers on scale N0. 3 may be interpreted as pounds instead of cents in which case the numbers on the cylinder 17 exposed through the slot 20 between the transposition numbers and the left hand end of saidslot 20 would indicate the number of pounds instead of the number of cents.

In the drawings Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate each a portion of the cash 12 with the slots 19 and 20 extending therethroughwhich two portions combined represent the full lengths of such slots 19 and 20. The two Figs. 6 and 7 combined and also the two Figs. 8 and 9 combined likewise represent the full lengths of said slots 19 and 20. Such slots 19 and 20 together with the scales associated therewith being shown in fragmentary views by reason of their great length. I r

I have shown only a few numbers representing dimensions of cross-section and numbers representing lengths of pieces of lumber and numbers representing feet and prices since a few of each of such numbers are sufficient to explain the operation and the relation between the different parts of my invention.

By reason of the numerous small figures on the cylinder 17 and on the respective scales I have provided a movably adjustable magnifying glass 24 mounted slidably ona rod 25 attached to the top of the casing 12. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the mode of operation of which is obvious.

Manifestly, the plan of construction of the various mechanical parts may be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a computing machine of the class described, the combination with an inclosing case having two longitudinal slotted openings disposed parallel with each other to extend through its top wall, of a cylinder rotatably mounted within said inclosing case withits axis disposed parallel with said slotted openings and with its peripheral surface disposed adjacent to said openings; a column of numbers circumferentially disposed on the peripheral surface of said cylinder which numbers constitute transposition indices; a plurality of other columns of numbers likewise disposed which numbers indicate each a product resulting from the multiplication of figures representing the length, breadth and thickness, respectively, of a piece of lumber; a series of columns ofnumbers each of which columns is disposed lengthwise of said cylinder at a difierent circumferential point thereof, which numbers each represent the product resulting from the multiplication of the total number of feet contained in a given number of pieces of lumber by the sum representing the price per unit of quan-' tity thereof; another series of columns of numbers each of which columns is also disposed lengthwise on said cylinder at a different.circumferential point thereof which numbers constitute another set of transposition indices; a column containing figures representing a series of different dimensions of pieces of lumber which column is disposed circumferentially on said cylinder; a scale of dimensions of pieces of lumber disposed on the top of said inclosing case adjacent to one of said slotted openings; a scale of transposition numbers disposed on the top of said inclosing case adjacent to the opposite edge of said one of said slotted openings; a scale of prices for units of quantities, in feet, of lumber, said scale being disposed on the top ofsaid inclosing case adjacent to one edge of the other one of saidslotted openings; a scale disposed on said inclosing case adjacent to the other edge of said other one of said slotted openings, said scale embodying a column of numbers representing unit quantities, in feet, of lumber, a character indicating a column of transpo sition numbers, a row of numbers each indicating a different number of pieces of lumber, a column of numbers each indicating the length of a piece of lumber, and a Word indicating sizes of lumber, said character being disposed to register with the circumferentially disposed column of transposition numbers on said cylinder while the word indicating sizes is disposed to register with the circumferentially disposed column of in with its peripheral surface adjacent to said openings; a column of numbers circumferentially dlsposedon said peripheral surface, which numbers constitute transposition indices; a'plurality of other columns of numbers likewise disposed whichnumbers indicate each a product resulting from the multiplication of figures representing the length, breadth and thickness, respectively, of a piece of lumber; a series of columns of numbers each of which columns is dis osed lengthwise of said cylinder at a different circumferential point thereof which numbers each represents the products resulting from the multiplication of a sum representing the total number of feet contained in a given number of pieces of lumber by a sum representing the piece per unit of quantity thereof; another series of columns of numbers each of which columns is also disposed lengthwise on said. cylinder at a different circumferential point thereof which numbers constitute another set of transposition indices; a column containing figures representing a series of different dimensions of pieces of lumber which column isjdisposed circumferentially on said cylinder and a range line imprinted on the peripheral surunease face of said cylinder to extend spirally therearound. l

3, A computing machine of the class described embodying an inclosing case having two longitudinal slotted openings disposed parallel with each other to extend lengthwise of its top wall; a scale of dimensions of pieces of lumber disposed on the outer 'surface of said inclosing case adjacent to one edge of one of said slotted openings; a scale of transposition numbers disposed on said outer surface adjacent to the opposite edge of said one of said slotted openings; a scale of prices of units of quantities, in feet, of lumber, said scale being disposed on said outer surface adjacent to one edge of the other one of said slotted openings; a scale disposed on said outer surface adjacent to the other edge of said other one of said slotted openings, said scale embodying a column of numbers representing unit quantities, in feet, of lumber, a character indicating a column of transposition numbers, a row of numbers each indicating the different numbers of pieces of lumber, and a column of numbers each number of which indicates the length of a different piece of lumber.

Inwitness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of October AQDL, 1914.

CARL R. RINGS.

Witnesses:

M, P. Hum), J. P. PETZELBERGER, 

